San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-02-10
Life of CoIrax-Further Notice.

Life of COIfax-Further Notice.
In our recent article on the Life of Schuy-
Ter Colfax, we accidentally overlooked some
which wo Ind noted down,
and which we regard rs too interesting to
pass by. As was stated, his taste for news
papers and politics showed itself in his boy
hood. He began writing for tho local
newspapers before he was seventeen; at the
age of twenty was valued correspondent
of the New York Tribune, and began m al
most lifelong private correspondence with
Mr.. Greeley, who later on invited him to
an editorial position on the Tribune. While
yet boy he also kept private journal.
We stated in our former article that he
never studied or practiccd law. This was a
sight error-he did attempt the study,
urged thereto by his mother, but found it go
distasteful that he abandoned it,
Although teetotaler, he was not equally
successful III abandoning the use of tobacco,
but was as inveterate smoker of cigars as
Gen. Grant.
His first official engagement was as as-
sistnnt clerk of the Indiana Senate and re-
porter for the State Journal, edited by John
D. Defrees. On returning home from In
dianapolis, he became, su6 rosa, the princi-
pal editor of the South Bend Free Press.
He WIS then only few months past his
majority. In the full of 18+5 he and an
other bought out the Free Press and in it's
stead began the publication of the st.
Joseph Valley Register, which he continued
about twenty years, and which we believe
is still continued. For the first twelve years
the profits of the paper did not average
quite 800 per month. When he bought
the concern he estimated his possei sons at
about 81, 900 one-half OF which he soon lost
by an improbable investment. In 1916 he
bought out the interest of his partner. In
1856 his Office was consumed by fire, loss
$1,000. He went right along. however,
without missing an issue, till noNr the close
of his political career, when he sold out the
but continued to write for it
20 the end
At the nge of twenty-five he married his
first love Their first house cost less than
5000, and their cash expenses the first year
were &125. Young people with exrravagant
IDEAS of starting iu life should make note
of this. Mr.. Colfax died worth several
hundred thousand dollars.
About year after their marriage the
newly married pair attached themselves to
the Presbyterian Church, but we believe he
joined and died in the Reform
ed Church of America, better known as the
Dutch Reformed.
We failed in our former article to en-
phnsizo as we should have done, one grand
source Of his SUCCESS in life, we mean his
genial and aifable manner. He was en-
man Of the people, and was at
home among them.
"The fent pride, nae pride had he"
Hence in large measure his political success,
md his widespread personal popularity.
That one so active and capable, so genial
,uoyant and successful, should after all
lose his career, without grave fault of
lis, under O cloud. affords sad con. Ientary
IN the ficklenoss OF fortune an1 the futility
# the brightest earthly prospects.
One of the rad features of his later years
vas the estrangement from his old friends
nd correspondents, such as Horace Gree
ey, Samuel Bowles and others, in conse-
Iuence of their opposition to the reelection
# Gen. Grant. Mr.. Colfax, first as q
Wing, and afterwards as n Republican, was
strong partisan, and hence, with all his
iberality of feeling, could scarcely do justice |
0 the anti-slavery leaders who broke up the |
yhig party when ii proved faithless TO true
epublican principles in 1852, and for the
anne cause went out of the Republican /
,arty in 1872, and caused its defeat in 1876
nd 1884, lie stood by his party, not only |
Inder the humiliation Of seeing himself |
displaced by another for the Presidency, |
nj even for seclnl term o the Vice /
Presidency. but also Of being snubbed /
" the dominecring Grant aud his crew of .
nercenary camp-foliowers. In this we
loubt not he was actuatcd by conscientious .
nd patriotic motives. While we cannot .
blame him, considering his point of view. |
We must express our regret that his com
,rehonsion OF the new noycment-which
3 being triumphlntly viniicaied by the
Of President Cleveland-was
lot better, his faith in the conservative pa F.
riotism Of the American people without re- .
poet to party greater; and especially that
is biographer everywhere slow 30 much .
ass Of this comprehension Gni this faith
much les, too. OF charity-thln did Mr. .
,olfa1 himself. wcare reluctantto close vI;h
ven this mild ocnsars of an othervise sat
sfaeiory biography; but simple jusiire 70
uch men as Greelcy, Sumnsr. Trumbun. .
nd their eomPelrs, requires Il al orr hands. .